When Kentucky 's defense largely shut down Georgia's offense two weeks ago in a 13-12 home loss to the Bulldogs , a few alarm bells sounded in Athens. Star quarterback Carson Beck looked downright pedestrian. Standout offensive guard Tate Ratledge was lost to an ankle sprain, and the normally bullish Georgia rushing attack mustered just 102 yards. To make matters worse, receiver London Humphreys will now miss the game with an illness .
Recent history, however, suggests the alarm bells should be sounding in Tuscaloosa − Alabama football hosts Georgia Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) − instead.
Because ever since Kirby Smart lifted the Georgia program to a level of dominance, the Bulldogs have slogged their way through a clunker of a win early in the season, just like the Kentucky win two weeks ago, only to rebound with a fiery resolve. Last year, it was a 27-20 win over a below average Auburn team, one that required a fourth-quarter touchdown, that made Georgia look beatable. The year prior, a seven-loss Missouri team took Georgia to the wire and lost 26-22, again due to a fourth-quarter Bulldogs rally. There were questions about Georgia's offense after a 10-3 snoozer of a win over Clemson to open the 2021 season, too.
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In every instance, Georgia steamrolled its subsequent opponents. And that's a big reason it will enter Saturday's clash at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the most highly anticipated matchup of the season to date, riding a 42-game regular-season win streak that dates back to a 2020 loss to rival Florida .
"They've just got great continuity. The physicality you see. The schemes, especially (on) defense, that goes way back and Coach Smart has implemented his system and has a lot of people now around him that have carried that on over the years as well," said UA coach Kalen DeBoer.
The Bulldogs have also navigated their early stumble. And that's typically been bad news for their next opponent.
Overall, Brailsford has played well in three games at center as a transfer from Washington , particularly in pass protection. He's not especially big, but makes up for it with technique and athleticism. There isn't much of a substitute for size in his first SEC matchup against Stackhouse, however, who can disrupt the inside running game and hold his own against double teams as a 320-pound senior. Stackhouse will catch plenty of blocks from Alabama guards as well, but Brailsford will have his hands full.
How do ticket prices look for Alabama's home clash against Georgia? Let's just say it's the game local ticket brokers have been waiting for. A few days before kickoff, online demand for the cheapest seats in the house is running north of $250 per ticket. Per tickpick.com, the average price is $490. As always, prices will fall as the game approaches, especially on Saturday, but if you want to secure tickets ahead of time, be ready to empty your wallet. Over at seatgeek.com, someone's asking $3,478 for a sixth-row pair around the 20-yard line. Shoot your shot, I guess . ... On the injury front, the one to watch is Georgia DT Mykel Williams , one of the best pass rushers in the SEC. Williams made strides from a Week 1 ankle injury over UGA's off week, and his return to the lineup against Alabama is possible. Whether he's 100 percent is another matter, but Georgia would be thrilled to have Williams back. ... Georgia is favored by two points, the first time Alabama has been an underdog at home in 90 games , dating back to a 2007 loss to LSU .
Auburn coach Hugh Freeze can't get enough wins on the field, so he's starting to count imaginary ones. Here's the latest gem from the SEC's least self-aware coach. "I mean no offense whatsoever at all to Arkansas or to Cal. I love Sam Pittman; I hope he wins the rest of his games. But the hard truth is if we play them nine more times, we beat them nine times. And that's what's hard to take," Freeze said. What's hard to take, actually, is pure delusion. And Pittman should take great offense. How should the Razorbacks coach take that as anything but a slap in the face? Anyway, the Arkansas social media team trolled Freeze proper . … Mississippi State travels to Texas this week in a horrific mismatch of the SEC's best team against its worst. It's now even more lopsided with MSU QB Blake Shapen out for the season with an injury. This is will be the Longhorns ' first league game. They'll come away wondering if they joined the Sun Belt ... LSU LB Harold Perkins' season-ending ACL injury is not only a huge blow to the Tigers ' defense but also comes with the worst timing for Perkins, who was likely playing his last college season before entering the 2025 NFL draft. Pro scouts have been bullish on Perkins since his freshman year, but if he enters the '25 draft, medical reports on his knee will face plenty of scrutiny. ... The SEC Spread Pick of the Weekhas taken a beating this season, but it's early. This week, let's rebound with Texas A&M minus-4 against Arkansas. Season ATS: 1-3. All-time ATS: 22-7-1.
Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Georgia's sputter vs Kentucky? Alabama football shouldn't be fooled
